by John Davis
“May I march alongside you today?” Alicia asked in a whispered voice.
“Of course my love,” Nadia replied with a smile. “Of course.”
Their newly found bond was immediately picked up on by Jackson, who felt himself growing a bit more cautious. Wondering if Alicia was capable of taking the shot.
“Our queen has forsaken us, it is the only explanation.” Tiamat said.
“But why?” another high-ranking Ancient warrior replied.
The nearly victorious but suddenly beaten group of warriors, at least what remained of them, had marched into the deep cover of German countryside. Thinking it their best chance to remain hidden while they planned their next move.
“It does not matter why,” Tiamat replied with a harsh tongue. “It only matters the path ahead. We've been cursed to live the remainder of our lives on this filthy rock of a planet. And that's only if we are able to fend of the attacks that both of us know will come.”
“Indeed.” the second warrior replied.
“We will travel back to Washington City and fortify it as our home. Our only chance of survival will be to bring such heavy losses to our attackers that our queen loses interest in us.” Tiamat said.
“Their queen. She is my queen no further.” the Ancient warrior said.
“Indeed.” Tiamat said, already playing out the roles of future leadership in his head.
“We need to know everything about your last location?” Saunders asked.
“I already told you everything,” Gretchen replied, trembling with her words while crying just a bit. “We were in a building, I think the same one we set out for,” she added, beginning to sob uncontrollably. “The Ancients found us and Calypso is dead. Most of us were sent back here for safety.”
“What about Nadia's team?” Saunders asked.
“I don't know, I've been here.” Gretchen replied.
Rather than offer a reply, Saunders pulled a chrome-plated pistol from his jacket, placing the barrel to her head.
“Enough!” Certes demanded, the hulking Ancient moving in a bit closer, though he stopped quick enough to remain in front of Perk's massive shotgun.
“Now now, you big son of a bitch. Back off and let us do what we have to do.” Perk said.
“This girl knows nothing!” Certes replied with anger.
“We wake up to a random letter written by a German, letting us know Nadia and her group plan to kill our friends,” Perk replied with authority. “Means somebody here knows something. And we'll start killing until that somebody starts talking.”
With a bit of a stare-off between the two, Certes showing emotional anger across his demon-like face while Perk continued the thousand-yard stare of a seasoned killer, the Ancient finally backed away.
“Good decision big man. Now, go fetch us some Germans.” Perk said.
Though hesitant, Certes finally turned to find a handful of German soldiers for questioning.
“Come on dear,” Saunders gently said, extending his arm to help the distraught woman to her feet. “I wouldn't have harmed you. I just needed the truth. That's all.”
“I...I told you the truth.” Gretchen replied, trying to calm her emotions while beginning to trust the two soldiers of a shaded history.
“I know that sweetie. Otherwise you'd be dead right now,” he replied with a grin. “But I can promise you, we'll find the truth. We'll find our friends. And when we do, someone is going to pay for Calypso's death.”
“Thank you.” Gretchen replied, starting for the door of the small cottage-style house.
Both Saunders and Perk offered a simple nod in response.
“Come.” Certes demanded, pointing at two of the German loyalists.
“What,” one of them replied. “What is this about?”
“The Americans are questioning everyone. They want to know of the whereabouts of their friends.” Certes replied, still upset over the confrontation with the end of a shotgun.
“We don't know anything.”
“Then tell them that.” the Ancient said.
“And if they push the issue?” the soldier asked.
“Then they will have to deal with me.”
“Are you still with me?” Jackson asked.
The former American pilot slowly sat beside his lover, for lack of a better term, as the group rested for a few minutes.
“I'm not sure what you mean?” Alicia replied.
They had stopped near a string of buildings that continued to smolder from such a recent battle between Ancient factions, though it was now just as desolate as an unbeaten path through the heart of a jungle.
“I mean, are you still with me? Are we still lovers? Are we still working on a plan to get away from these psychotic bastards?”
Feeling as though a hundred eyes of suspicion were on her, Alicia simply cast her attention into another direction. Daring not risk guilt by association.
“Alicia, I need to know.” Jackson stated.
But she continued a gaze away from him, daring not be charged with guilt by association.
“Please Alicia. I need to know if you are with me, because I fear the time is rapidly approaching. They're going to take their shot soon. I know it. I need to know if I can still trust you,” he added. “If you still trust me?”
“Jackson,” she answered loudly. “I can't argue with the fact that you've been acting very strange. And you continue with this discussion of you against the world. I just want to find supplies and get back. That's all. We can figure everything else out when we get back.”
“Everything else?” he asked angrily, standing back to his feet. “I thought it was love, not just everything else. But the way you pass it off as nothing...I want no part of it. Not anymore.”
“We do it tonight.” Nadia said, having watched the entire conversation between two former lovers.
“Agreed. I'll take care of it.” Preacher replied.
“No,” she said, turning to her loyal friend. “I appreciate the fact that you would, but I'll do it. I'll kill him myself.”
“Very well.” Preacher replied, turning once more to watch the final hours of Jackson's life. At least if Nadia had her way about things.
And with an exchange of bitterness, Jackson grabbed his battle rifle, walking away from any hope of being with the woman he loved.
“Come on you crazy bitch. Let's skip the excuses and get to marching. We both know why.” he said loudly, directing his comment to Nadia as Alicia watched him walk away with very little emotion.
“Please...” the German soldier begged, tears flooding his usually-hardened eyes. “I had nothing to do with it. I just overheard Nadia and Preacher, that's all. I left the note because I do not condone the senseless murder of another human. Please do not kill me.”
“Kill you?” Saunders asked, quickly pulling his pistol from the face of the German bearing truth. “No friend, I'm gonna feed you a hot meal,” he added, helping the soldier to his feet. “Right before you head out with us to find that trifling bitch.”
“I don't understand?” the German asked.
“Understand this. Anybody who fucks with a friend of mine...dies. Anyone that helps me save a friend, well they get on my good side. Right now, you're on my good side. When we catch up to the bastards who are behind this, your loyalty will be put to the test as guns begin to blaze,” Saunders replied, smiling at the German soldier a bit. “My advice? Stay on my good side when that happens.”
“Cause there ain't no way we're leaving without saving our friends and putting an end to that double-sided whore.” Perk commented.
“But I don't want to be considered a traitor to my own people.” the German soldier contested.
“Too late for that,” Certes replied, standing to the far corner of the small room. “The moment you betrayed Nadia you became a traitor in the eyes of mother Germany.”
“Fuck mother Germany,” Saunders interjected. “This isn't about love of a country, this is about a man who did the rig
ht thing.” Saunders said, patting the German soldier on his back.
“From here on out, you're one of us. You've earned that much respect.” Perk said, joining in the praise of a single man who alerted them to the plans of Nadia Jacobson.
Several minutes had passed as Perk, Saunders, the German and nearly a dozen American soldiers prepped for the journey to find their friends.
“This is not necessary.” Certes stated.
“If I were you, I'd gather up everyone who is loyal to Nadia and carry your asses before we return. Because when we do,” Perk replied, readying his large shotgun with a single hand. “There's gonna be a reaping of truth up in this muthafucker. And you can translate that into German for as many of these cowards as you want to.” he added, pointing directly to the bulk of German soldiers who stood behind Certes.
“You'd be unwise to return here.” Certes replied with a grin.
“Unwise?” Perk asked with sarcasm. “I've got a master's degree in burying gray skins, don't you worry yourself about that,” he added. “Be back soon enough.”
And with his statement, the group began to march with caution, though at a quicker rate than normal, toward the city of Berlin.
“Let's go get our friends.” Saunders exclaimed proudly.
The battle for survival has been taxing to say the least. Still, I feel it even more impossible to survive the overwhelming feelings for two. I've tried to distance each from my heart; an action which only seems to bring them in closer.
The war is not killing me, but I fear my love for both Jackson and Nadia may be.
Alicia paused, taking a moment to reflect as she prepared to continue reading a journal entry from two weeks prior.
How is it that I lay next to such a man? A man of strength and virtue, yet find myself thinking of Nadia. Wanting her even. Jackson deserves better, and I have started to think of myself as cursed. I know he deserves better, yet my love for him will not allow me to set him free.
Though my intentions are true, I cannot seem to control my feelings for Nadia. It is my cross to bear, and I carry the cross of guilt because of it. I love this man. Truly, I do. But my options for the purity of true happiness seem to be none.
If my parents were still alive, I would go to them. Throw my problems at their feet perhaps. But they are both gone. Murdered by these gray-skinned bastards who have become a part of my life. I hate these fucking murderers with every fiber of my being. Why our planet? Why during my lifetime?
I've often considered throwing my problems down at the feet of God above. But I have even gone as far as to question my own faith. I want to believe, really I do. But what kind of God would allow such horrors to exist?
I've learned to trust in my weapon, that's all. But I fear the weapon I carry cannot present a solution to my divided heart. Or can it?
For the first time in a while, Alicia wept. She'd been on the verge for so long, always toughening up a bit in order to fight the tears back. But, with no other place to turn, Alicia began to pray to any God above that would hear her.
Please God. Please show me the way. I cannot continue the path I'm on, it is destroying me. I only wish for a solution, and I need your guidance. My heart loves Jackson, and it longs for Nadia. I need a sign God, please.
She had intended to pray a bit longer, but the sound of approaching footsteps alarmed her a bit; the soldier in her taking over as she whirled around with pistol in hand.
“Relax love, it's just me,” Nadia said, holding her hands up a bit. “I need you to come along for a few minutes.”
“Business or pleasure?” Alicia replied with a smile, tucking her pistol into the back of her pants once more.
“Both,” the German mistress replied with a smile. “Business first however.”
As both of the ladies left the small house, which had been nearly demolished during recent battles between demons of the sky, they crossed a street of complete desertion. It had once been a hustling avenue for those who lived in Berlin, but was beautiful nonetheless as a drapery of sunset illuminated overhead.
The two guards who had been posted on the door of Jackson remained, though he was unwise to the fact. His small house was in much better shape, though it was barely large enough to yield two rooms.
“You may go, I'll take it from here.” Nadia said, dismissing the guards from their post.
As they left, Nadia glanced down the street of near-darkness, nodding to Preacher.
He remained silent, several houses away and smoking a cigarette, tiny embers of orange-red reflecting back to the glaze of such cold eyes.
Returning a nod, the sniper watched both Nadia and Alicia enter Jackson's small dwelling, knowing well enough that a single gunshot would soon follow.
“It's just like Gretchen said,” Perk confirmed, clearing the rear of the building with caution. “Calypso's back here. Dead.”
“Fuck,” Saunders replied, finally having to deal with the loss of his longtime friend. “I swear to God when we catch these traitors...”
“I know. And we will. But we're going to have to keep moving.” Perk said.
Quickly moving back through the building in order to regroup with the remaining soldiers, Perk gave the situation a moment. He understood the connection between Saunders and Calypso, knew their history.
Saunders had been given up on by society, cast out as nothing but a waste of humanity. But as the Ancients fell from the sky, guns blazing, Calypso convinced the higher-ups to allow inmates entry into all that remained of the military.
It was because of the warrior who lay dead at his feet, that Saunders had become something more than a monster. He'd found purpose in killing Ancients, and owed a great deal of gratitude to Calypso for it.
Ripping a military patch from his own jacket, one that depicted the United States flag, Saunders gently rested it onto the chest of the fallen warrior. Slowly turning to rejoin those who remained alive and prepared to reap havoc on anyone who would oppose them.
“Now what?” Saunders asked, walking back out into the street of pitch black as Perk shined a small flashlight onto the crinkle of a map.
“No idea,” Perk replied, continuing to stare across a dated map of Berlin. “I'd say if they're out here, the outskirts would be the place to look. Inner Berlin looks full of Ancients. Our best bet would be to keep sweeping the outside areas of the city, otherwise we'll risk being caught by those far more dangerous than Nadia Jacobson.”
“I dunno,” Saunders replied. “At least we know what the Ancients are after.”
“Ladies.” Jackson said, standing to his feet as candlelight cast just enough light for the moment.
“You know why we're here.” Nadia replied, slowly pulling her Luger-style pistol from its holster.
“Well, I know why you're here. You bitch. But Alicia's the one I'm wondering about?”
“She's with me, always has been. I'm sorry to have to end things like this, but my concern is for Germany and her people. You have no business here.” Nadia said.
“Jackson, is it true? Have you been selling us out to the Ancients?” Alicia asked.
“You know it's not. If you want to shoot me, shoot me, but I don't have to answer to a woman who threw my heart to the side like it was nothing. I deserve better than that.” Jackson replied.
“Sad words for a man who's about to go to his grave.” Nadia added.
“Well this sad man will go knowing he lived a life of truth, which is more than I can say for anyone else in this room.” Jackson said, spitting to the feet of the German soldier.
“Wait,” Alicia said, holding Nadia back with her hand while pulling her own pistol with the other. “Let me finish this. Let me prove my loyalty.”
“You don't have to do that love.” Nadia responded.
“Yes, yes I do.”
“Alicia, what the hell are you doing?” Jackson asked, realizing his life was truly in jeopardy at the hands of the woman he loved.
“You know what I'm doing.” Alicia
replied with a wink.
It was enough to alert Nadia, but not enough to give the German woman time to respond. Soon finding herself a prisoner to the end of Alicia's gun barrel.
“I'm sorry to have to do this.” Alicia said.
“It's becoming a habit I'm afraid,” Nadia replied. “But either way, you've nowhere to run.”
“You'd be surprised.” Jackson commented.
“And you'd be dead,” Nadia replied sharply. “If not for her misguided love.”
Stepping within only feet of Nadia, Alicia slowed her tone in order to push her point across deeply.
“You don't own me, no one does,” Alicia said. “Furthermore, what you and I have...had; it was nothing more than a physical attraction. Never love. My heart belongs to Jackson. Always has. Let me be clear when I say this. You and I will never be. Never. Are we clear?”
“Crystal.” Nadia replied, her eyes cutting sharply into the brunette.
“Good,” Alicia replied with a smile. “Because you and I have a past, I'm not going to kill you. Not even going to knock you unconscious this time. Just tie you up.”
“A past? You mean we've had sex,” Nadia replied, her words striking a chord with Jackson. “That's right lover boy. She and I had a magical night together not so long ago.”
“I'll explain later dear,” Alicia said, seeing the obvious confusion and hurt in Jackson's eyes. “But first we need to tie and gag her.”
And as the former pilot secured the hands of the German bombshell, sparing no expense when it came to the tightness of rope to her wrists, he paused for a moment.
“Shh.” Jackson said mockingly, holding a finger to his lips before burying a torn rag into her mouth.
Alicia fired a single shot into the air, knowing Preacher and the remaining Germans expected one.
“We need to go.”
“Yea,” Jackson replied emotionless. “Lots of ground to cover and lots to sort out.”